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SONG
NOTES:
1. YON
GREEN VALLEY (traditional-from the singing of Chris Coe)
Collected
in 1952 by Patrick Shuldham-Shaw from a retired sailor in Shetland,
this song appears in the published collections of Peter Kennedy,
Helen Creighton and Grieg-Duncan. I love the positive outlook of the
young lady and particularly her parting shot: “A contented mind
bears no slavery”.
2. WALL
OF STONE (©
Chris Moore)
One
winter's night I went to hear the band “Rust Farm” at Tir Na Nog
in Somerville, MA. I loved their sound and purchased their CD “Snows
of March”. “Wall of Stone” stands out for its ominous message
juxtaposed against a jaunty tune. Thanks, Chris.
3. JEALOUS
WORDS (© Richard Thompson)
The
great thing about Richard Thompson's songs are the many levels that
can be found in his lyrics. Thanks to Gordon Campbell of Miglo
Records in Auchtermuchty, Scotland for suggesting I record this song.
4. RUINS
BY THE SHORE (© Nic Jones)
On
one of my UK tours, a recording of Nic Jones' brilliant guitar work
and singing kept me company on many of the drives. When I first heard
“Ruins”, I was drawn in and decided that I had to learn this
wonderful anthem of our times.
5. THE
RAINBOW (traditional-from the singing of Swan Arcade)
Collected
from George Orton of Barrow-on-Humber by Percy Grainger, this is a
wonderful song about how a woman takes charge and wins the day. A
large nod to the trio Swan Arcade- Jim Boyes, the late Dave Brady and
Heather Brady- for providing the inspiration that gave us this
version.
6.
THE
NIGHT OWL HOMEWARD TURNS
(© Steve Tilston)
Steve
composed this song about the Norsemen's first ventures to England's
shores, but I believe that the song's subject matter is timeless.
7. CRUEL
WAS MY FATHER (traditional)
I
had learned a version of this called “In the Month of January”
that was collected by Peter Kennedy from Sarah Makem. To me, Makem's
tune was always hauntingly beautiful, but the story never quite made
sense. Many years later I found another version of the song in the
Helen Hartness Flanders Collection, sung by Mrs. Christine Henry of
Providence, RI. We decided to put Mrs. Henry's lyrics to Mrs. Makem's
tune to give this sad tale a setting that befits it.
8. LILI
MARLENE WALKS AWAY
(© Bill Caddick)
Bill
Caddick's songs have been on my radar ever since I heard June Tabor's
renditions of “Barmaid's Song” and “Unicorns”. I heard
“Lili” a few years ago and was struck again by Bill's imagery in
the lyrics and the melody he composed.
9. SALISBURY
PLAIN (traditional-from the singing of A.L. Lloyd)
Collected
by Ralph Vaughn Williams in 1904, this song appears in the Penguin
Book of English Folk Songs, co-authored
by Lloyd and RVW.
10. THE
SNOW IS ON THE GROUND (Traditional-From the singing of Jeff Warner)
Collected
from Eleazer Tillett by Jeff's parents, Anne and Frank Warner, this
song conveys to me that special beauty that only winter can bring. In
Tillett's version, the second line reads “And the birds is all
dropped from the trees”. We decided to go back to the song titled
“Remember the Poor” from the Forget
Me Not Songster for
the original lyric. Other changes made in the lyrics came from
another version of the song performed by the New England-based
quartet Nowell Sing We Clear.
11. ALCOHOL
(© Ray Davies)
As
a kid listening to top 40 radio, I loved the Kinks' popular songs. In
my first year at college, I heard another Davies masterpiece,
“Skin and Bones” and decided to buy one of their records. I
couldn't recall the name of the album and ended up with a copy of
Muswell
Hillbillies.
It continues to be one of my favorite recordings.
12. THE
DARKEST HOUR IS JUST BEFORE DAWN (© Ralph Stanley)
The
Stanley Brothers created some of the best songs to come out of the
beginnings of what is now known as bluegrass music. I think that some
of the most beautiful songs are from the American gospel tradition
and “Darkest Hour” is no exception.
13. Naked
Rainbow (trad)
CREDITS
AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Arranged
and Produced by Dave Mattacks
[“Jealous
Words” arranged and produced by Mike Barry and Dave Mattacks]
Engineered
and Recorded by Mike Barry at Babyland Studios, Medford, MA
<http://www.babylandstudio.com>
Foundation
tracks [except “Wall...”, “Jealous...”, “Cruel...”,
“Lili...” and “Salisbury...”] engineered and Recorded by
David J. Minehan at Woolly Mammoth Studios, Waltham, MA <www.woollymammothsound.net>
Mixed
by Huck Bennert <www.HuckBennert.com>
Mastered
by Marc Donahue at Sound Mirror, Jamaica Plain, MA <www.soundmirror.com>
Graphic
design and layout: George Striker <www.area-5-one.com>
Musicians:
Debra
Cowan: Vocals, Acoustic guitar on “Wall...” “Night Owl...”
“Salisbury...”, English Concertina on “Rainbow”, “Night
Owl”
Dave
Mattacks: Drums, Cymbals, Percussion, Piano, Pump Organ, Hammered
Dulcimer, Wurlitzer Piano, Toy Piano
Duke
Levine: Acoustic Guitar, Mandola, National Guitar, Octave Mandolin
Marty
Ballou: Upright Bass
Joyce
Andersen: Fiddle
With:
Billy
Novick: Clarinet and Wolf Ginandes:Tuba on “Alcohol”
Additional
Vocals: Mike Barry on “Rainbow”, “Lili...” and “Yon Green
Valley”
Ruth
Peterson, Mike and Julie Barry on “Darkest Hour...”
Mike,
Julie and Liam Barry on “Lili...”
Debra
would like to thank:
-First
and foremost, DM for his friendship, experience, and incredible
knowledge that he brought to this project. Without his guidance, this
recording could not have happened and I am really glad that I asked
him to produce.
-Mike
Barry, a new friend and to whom I am eternally indebted.
-All
the musicians who went over and above in providing fantastic tracks
for me to sing with
-Mike,
Julie and Liam Barry for their work and contributions to the “Great
Tilston Lobstah Feed”
-Buffie
Groves who was there when I needed her most; a true Sister of Mercy.
-Nigel
and Christine Schofield
-Pete
and Gini Smith; Pete, whose partnership on the UK '08 Tour gave these
songs life in performance; Gini who went over and above to make this
American feel right at home
-Ken
Batts, Harvey and Judith Strassman, Bacca Pipes Folk Club (Keighley,
UK), Gordon J. Campbell of Miglo Records, Scotland and the rest of my
friends and family for their generous support
-Kev
for everything
DM
would like to thank:
-Debra
for asking me to do this CD, singing/playing so great and being a
wonderful like {and open} minded soul
-Caron
{always}
-Joyce,
Marty, Duke - and Wolf, Billy, Julie, Liam & Ruth for simply
being the top-est
-Dave
Minehan, Marc Donahue and {extra ripple,please} Huck Bennert for
'ears plus'
-Zildjian,
Yamaha, Evans, Pro-Mark and LP for fab gear and fab people
-Mason
Daring for the loan of the Hammer Dulcimer
-Milt
Reder for the loan of the Toy Piano {just the one augmented chord,
mind you}
-And
last but not least, Mike Barry for just about everything else - and
how incredibly well he delivered it.
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